Agenda, decisions and minutes

Prior to formally opening the meeting, the outgoing Mayor Lia Colacicco took the opportunity to welcome all new and returning councillors following the local borough elections at the start of May 2022 and all guests present to the Annual Council meeting and invited Carolyn Downs, as Chief Executive, to provide a brief outline of the arrangements for the conduct of the meeting and Mayor Making ceremony. Having noted the outlined provided, the Mayor then moved on to formally open the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J.Patel.

The Mayor advised that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Jayanti Patel.

For the Council to elect a Mayor for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, in accordance with Standing Order 27(a).

Councillor Abdi Aden was elected to serve as Mayor of the London Borough of Brent for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Prior to handing over to the Chief Executive for the conduct of the election process, Lia Colacicco began by asking members for nominations to the office of Mayor of the London of Borough of Brent for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.

Councillor Muhammed Butt proceeded to nominate Councillor Abdi Aden.  In moving the nomination, he took the opportunity to welcome all new and returning councillors following the election and to thank Lia Colacicco and her family for their hard work and dedication during her time as Mayor.  In nominating Councillor Aden, he highlighted the work and strong relationships developed across the local communities he had represented whilst serving as a ward councillor, which he felt would assist Councillor Aden, as Mayor, in being able to continue providing strong civic leadership for the borough.

Councillor Mili Patel seconded Councillor M.Butt’s nomination of Councillor Aden for the office of Mayor of the London of Borough of Brent for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.

There were no other nominations and it was therefore RESOLVED that Councillor Abdi Aden be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Brent for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year. 

Councillor Aden then proceeded to sign the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor.

To receive notice from the Mayor regarding the appointment of a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor, in accordance with Standing Order 27(b).

Councillor Orleen Hylton was appointed to serve as Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Brent for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Councillor Aden, as newly appointed Mayor, thanked members for his nomination and appointment as Mayor.  He then announced that he had appointed Councillor Orleen Hylton to serve as Deputy Mayor for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.

At this stage in proceedings the Mayors Chain of Office and robes were exchanged between the outgoing and newly appointed Mayor.

Councillor Aden then formally returned thanks for his appointment and began by commenting on his pride and honour in being nominated as Mayor and thanking all members for their trust, confidence and faith in appointing him to take on the role as first citizen of the borough.

The Mayor then went on to share some information about his background.  Having been born and educated in Somalia he advised that he had moved to the UK and settled in Brent in 1990, where he had lived and worked ever since as an employee of the Royal Mail.  It was during this time he became interested in community development and cohesion, having worked as a volunteer at the Stonebridge Somali Centre, which had also deepened an interest in local politics.  This led to him standing in the local elections in 2010 and having the honour to represent Stonebridge as a councillor since 2018 with him serving as Deputy Mayor during 2021/22.

Having advised how delighted he was to have been joined by so many guests and relatives from all over the UK and abroad he then moved on to express his gratitude to his predecessor Lia Colacicco for her outstanding work as Mayor during such a difficult and challenging period in the recovery from the pandemic.  Recognising the challenges this had placed on the Mayor being able to undertake her full range of activities he congratulated her on the work undertaken to support local communities across the borough and to continue promoting Brent at so many events and functions.  In addition he also took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank Tim Evans, as the Mayor’s consort, for the support her had provided the Mayor over the previous year.

The Mayor then moved on to congratulate Councillor Hylton on her appointment as Deputy Mayor and advised how much he was looking forward to working with her over the coming year in order to continue delivering positives outcomes for the borough.

Referring to teamwork, the Mayor outlined how he intended to continue working closely with fellow members, the Chief Executive, Council Management Team and Mayor’s Office to capitalise on their strengths and experience in order to continue the hard work of previous Mayors in seeking to achieve the best results for the borough.

Councillor Aden then outlined his aims for his Mayoralty in terms of continuing to support the Council’s vision and objectives.  In this role he advised that he also intended to support the following three charities:

·                Hilltop Circle – a Brent-based charity focussed on providing training, education and support to young people with the aim of instilling values, self-esteem, skills and confidence to help them  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To invite a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, in accordance with Standing Order 27(c).

NOTED

(1)      the vote of thanks to the co-opted and independent members serving on the Council’s committees.

(2)     the vote of thanks and tributes paid to the outgoing Mayor.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Mili Patel, as newly appointed Deputy Leader, to propose a vote of thanks to all co-opted and other members serving on the Council’s committees.

Councillor Mili Patel began by thanking the outgoing Mayor, Lia Colaccico, for the example she had set in undertaking her civic duties under such difficult and challenging circumstances during the recovery from the pandemic.

As this was the Annual Meeting of the Council, she also advised it was an ideal opportunity to highlight again the valued work of the Council’s co-opted and independent committee members, given the core role they played as critical friends in the Council’s democratic process.  She advised that their independence and objectivity were highly valued and integral to the role of the bodies on which they served including Scrutiny, Audit & Standards and the various health and education bodies.  She ended by thanking all of the co-opted Members for their work in supporting the Council’s drive towards continuous improvement.

The opportunity was also taken to recognise and thank the previous Deputy Leader (Margaret McLennan) for her work, dedication and commitment shown to local residents, the Council and its staff in her role and in helping to steer the Council through such challenging recent times.

Councillor Kansagra, as Leader of the Conservative Group, was then invited to speak and advised that he would like to second the vote of thanks moved by the Deputy Leader to all co-opted and other members on the Council’s committees. He also took the opportunity to welcome all new and returning members and to congratulate the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their appointment before ending by thanking Lia Colacicco, as the outgoing Mayor, for the way she had conducted herself in her civic role during such challenging times as the Council sought to recover from the pandemic as well as for the way she had chaired the Council meetings both in person and online.  He ended by wishing her well in her retirement from the Council and in her ongoing work and involvement with the local community.

The Mayor then invited Councillor M.Butt to formally propose a vote of thanks for the outgoing Mayor, Lia Colacicco.  In doing so, Councillor M.Butt began by congratulating the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their appointment and by highlighting the honour in serving as First Citizen of the Borough and in being able to advocate and serve as a champion for Brent.  These were roles he felt Lia Colacicco, supported by her consort Tim Evans, had fulfilled to the maximum whilst also bringing a unique style and passion to the role, which had been much needed as the borough sought to recover from the pandemic.  Recognising her passion for the environment and sustainability he advised the Council would continue to build on the work already undertaken and to ensure, given the wide range of events attended during her year in office, that the work in raising Brent’s profile continued.  Highlighting the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

NOTED the announcements from the Mayor in relation to:

·                The deaths of former Councillors Francis Eniola, Nkechie Amalu Johnson & Alan Johnston.

·                Brent Council having received the Councillor Development Charter Plus Award.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

(i)     Death of Former Councillors Francis Eniola, Nkechie Amalu Johnson and Alan Johnston

The Mayor announced it was with much sadness he had to begin by advising members of the death of three former councillors Francis Eniola, Nkechie Amalu Johnson and Alan Johnston.

On behalf of Brent council he expressed deepest sympathy to the family and friends of all three former councillors and thanked them for the service to the local communities they had represented and the borough as a whole.

(ii)    Award of Councillor Development Charter Plus Award

The Mayor then took the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the Council once again having been awarded the Councillor Development Charter Plus Award.

He advised the award followed an external assessment of the Council’s Member Learning and Development function undertaken in December 2021, with the Assessment Panel having concluded that Brent continued to meet the standard of their Charter Plus as the highest award.

As a result, the Mayor invited the Leader of the Council, Chief Executive and Councillor Knight, as Chair of the Member Learning and Development Steering Group to come forward in order to be presented with the Charter Plus Award and Certificate with members taking the opportunity to thank and congratulate those involved with a round of applause.

The Mayor then advised that this concluded his announcements and moved straight on to the next item.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no interests declared by Members at the meeting.

There were no interests declared by Members at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on Thursday 24 February 2022.

AGREED the minutes from the Council meeting held on Thursday 24 February 2022 as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 24 February 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To confirm the appointment of the Leader of the Council for a term of office expiring in May 2026.

Councillor Muhammed But was elected to serve as Leader of the Council for a term of office expiring in May 2026.

As this was the first meeting of the new Administration following the local borough elections on 5 May 2022 the Mayor invited nominations for the office of Leader of the Council which would be for a term of office to expire in May 2026.

Councillor Afzal proceeded to move and Councillor Mili Patel seconded the nomination of Councillor Muhammed Butt to the office of Leader of the Council.

There were no other nominations and on being put to the vote it was therefore RESOLVED that Councillor Muhammed Butt be elected Leader of the Council for a term of office to expire in May 2026.

To receive, in accordance with Standing Order 27(g), a report from the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations outlining proposed changes to the Constitution following its annual review.

Council RESOLVED:

(1)     To agree the amendments to the Constitution as set out in Appendix 1 of the report along with the following additional amendment moved by the Leader of the Council at the meeting:

To delete Standing Order 49 (iii) requiring that the Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committees shall be from a different political group as the Chair and waive Standing Order 4 in order to enable the change to come into immediate effect during the meeting.

A further proposed amendment to Standing Order 49 moved by Councillor Lorber at the meeting which sought to require the Chair of the Scrutiny Committees to be allocated to the opposition group(s) was, having been put to the vote, declared LOST.

(2)     To note that, to the extent the changes agreed under (1) above related to executive functions of the Council, they had been approved by the Leader.

(3)     To authorise the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations to amend the Constitution accordingly, including making any necessary incidental or consequential changes

The Mayor invited Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the report from the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations.

Councillor M.Butt began by thanking members for his re-appointment as Leader of the Council and outlined his aim to ensure the Council continued to do everything within its power to support local communities across Brent and ensure those most in need received the necessary assistance.  In presenting the report, he advised this detailed a number of proposed changes to the Constitution as a result of not only the usual annual review but also to reflect the outcome of the local borough election, change in size and the representation of political groups on the Council.  The changes outlined included amendments to the Procedural Rules, Responsibility for Functions, Codes of Conduct and Protocols and the Members Allowance Scheme.

In introducing the report, Councillor M.Butt also moved an amendment to the Procedural Rules in Part 2 of the Constitution proposing the deletion of Standing Order 49 (iii) (Appointments to chairs and vice chairs of Council Committee and Sub Committees) which required that the Vice Chair of each Scrutiny Committee was appointed from a different political group as the Chair and also the waiving of Standing Order 4 in Part 1 of the Constitution in order to enable the change to come into immediate effect during the meeting.

The Mayor then opened the debate inviting other members to speak on the report and amendment moved by the Leader of the Council, with the following contributions made.

Councillor Lorber in responding and expressing concern at the amendment moved by the Leader of the Council highlighted what he felt was the case for greater rather than more restricted participation by opposition councillors in the scrutiny process in order to maintain independence of the function and important role it played in being able to hold the Council’s Executive to account.  Highlighting a need for effective scrutiny to come prior to decisions being made by the Executive rather than after being taken he outlined what he considered to be the need for greater transparency, challenge and public accountability in the decision making process and to provide scrutiny with the necessary independence and power to achieve that, which it was felt the amendment moved by the Leader of the Council would undermine.  Given the views expressed, Councillor Lorber moved a further amendment at the meeting which sought to retain Standing Order 49 (iii) and amend it by requiring the Chair of each Scrutiny Committee to be allocated to the opposition group(s) with Standing Order 4 also waived to enable the change to come into immediate effect during the meeting. In moving the amendment he pointed out this reflected existing practice in a number of other local authorities and what he believed was also the intention of the original legislation which had established the scrutiny arrangements within local government.

Councillor Kansagra also spoke on behalf of the Conservative Group to express concern at the amendment moved by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To receive a report from the Chief Executive asking Members to review and determine, under Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the allocation of seats on Council Committees and other relevant bodies, in accordance with Standing Order 27(h).

(Agenda republished to include this item on 17 May 2022)

Council RESOLVED

(1)     To agree the size of each Committee, as detailed within the report.

(2)     To approve the allocation of seats on Committees to each of the Council’s political groups (where the rules of political balance applied) as set out within the report and to make appointments to those committees (under agenda item 10 on the agenda) giving effect to the wishes of the political group allocated the seats.

(3)     To note that the political balance on Council Sub-Committees would be reviewed at the first meeting of the General Purposes Committee and Licensing Committee to be held following the Annual Council Meeting.

(4)     To agree provision for the allocation of a political assistant to both the Labour and Conservative Groups, on the basis detailed within sections 3.13 – 3.15 of the report.

The Mayor then moved on to invite Councillor M Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the report from the Chief Executive.

Councillor M.Butt advised the report fulfilled the Council’s duty to review and determine the representation of different political groups on certain Committees at its annual meeting and as soon as practicable following on from the local borough elections held on 5 May 2022.

As no members indicated that they wished to speak on the item the Mayor put the recommendations straight to the vote and they were unanimously declared CARRIED.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

(1)     To agree the size of each Committee, as detailed within the report.

(2)     To approve the allocation of seats on Committees to each of the Council’s political groups (where the rules of political balance applied) as set out within the report and to make appointments to those committees (under item below) giving effect to the wishes of the political group allocated the seats.

(3)     To note that the political balance on Council Sub-Committees would be reviewed at the first meeting of the General Purposes Committee and Licensing Committee to be held following the Annual Council Meeting.

(4)     To agree provision for the allocation of a political assistant to both the Labour and Conservative Groups, on the basis detailed within sections 3.13 – 3.15 of the report.

To receive a report from the Chief Executive seeking Council’s approval to the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs along with the membership and substitute membership on Council Committees and other relevant bodies, in accordance with Standing Order 27(i).

Members are asked to note that the full list of appointments have been attached.

Appointments that are not constitutionally made by Full Council (including notification of appointment(s) of the Deputy Leader and to Cabinet and any Cabinet Committee) will also be circulated prior to the meeting, for Members to note.

(Agenda republished to include this item on 18 May 2022)

Council RESOLVED :

(1)      To approve the appointments of members, co-opted members and substitutes to Council Committees and Outside Bodies for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)     To approve the appointments of Chairs and Vice Chairs to Council Committees for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.

An amendment moved by Councillor Kansagra at the meeting seeking to appoint a Conservative Group member as Chair of Kingsbury & Kenton Brent Connects was, on being put to the vote, declared LOST.

(3)     To note the appointments:

(a)      of the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Joint Executive Committees and their respective Chairs and Vice Chairs for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

(b)      to be confirmed by the General Purposes Committee for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

(c)     to be confirmed by Licensing Committee for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 4 of the report.

The Mayor then invited Councillor M.Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the report from the Chief Executive.

Councillor M.Butt advised the report set out the nominations for appointments to Committees, Joint Committees, Forums, Panels, Outside Bodies and nomination for Chairs and Vice Chairs, where necessary, for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.  Following the decision taken as part of the Annual Review of the Constitution in relation to the vice –chair arrangements on scrutiny he confirmed that the Labour Group had nominated Councillor Collymore as Vice-Chair of the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Long as Vice-Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee.

The Mayor then opened the debate inviting other members to speak on the report, with the following contributions made.

Councillor Kansagra in highlighting the increase in Conservative Group members within Kenton and Kingsbury wards moved an amendment to the proposed membership of Brent Connects – Kingsbury & Kenton seeking to allocate the Chair of that body to a member of the Conservative Group.

Councillor Mistry also spoke in support of the proposed amendment moved by Councillor Kansagra, highlighting the need to recognise the increase in Conservative group members across both wards and mandate she felt this provided for those members in seeking to represent both areas.

As no further members indicated they wished to speak the Mayor then invited Councillor M.Butt to exercise his right of reply in relation to the debate on the report.

In summing up Councillor M.Butt again highlighted what he felt had been the clear mandate provided for the new Administration as a result of the local election, which he advised would be reflected and exercised to its fullest extent within the membership on each Council body and to ensure all local communities continued to be represented fairly.  As a result he advised the Labour Administration were not minded to support the amendment moved by the Conservative Group in relation to membership of Brent Connects – Kingsbury & Kenton.

The Mayor thanked members for their contributions during the debate and moved on to put the amendment and recommendations within the report to the vote.

On putting the amendment moved by Councillor Kansagra regarding the chair of Brent Connects – Kingsbury & Kenton to the vote this was declared LOST.

The substantive recommendations, as set out in the report and detailed below, were then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Council therefore RESOLVED:

(1)        To approve the appointments of members, co-opted members and substitutes to Council Committees and Outside Bodies for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report

(2)    To approve the appointments of Chairs and Vice Chairs to Council Committees for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report, subject to:

(a)    Councillor Collymore being appointed as Vice-Chair of the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee; and

(b)    Councillor Long being appointed as Vice-Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

(3)    To note the appointments:

(a)        of the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Joint  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive a report from the Assistant Chief Executive seeking approval to the final calendar of Council meetings to take place following the Annual Council meeting for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year, in accordance with Standing Order 27 (j) & (k).

(Agenda republished to include an updated version of this item on 18 May 2022)

Council RESOLVED

(1)      To approve the dates for Full Council and other meetings to take place during the 2022-23 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)     That the Head of Executive & Member Services be authorised to make any alterations deemed necessary to the Municipal Calendar during the course of the year having consulted with the Leader of the Council, Leaders of the Opposition Group(s) and Chair of the affected meeting.

The Mayor then invited Councillor M Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the report from the Chief Executive which he advised presented the final calendar of meeting dates for Full Council and other meetings during the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

As no members indicated that they wished to speak on the item the recommendations in the report were put straight to the vote by the Mayor and were declared CARRIED.

It was therefore RESOLVED that:

(1)      Members approve the dates for Full Council and other meetings to take place during the 2022/23 Municipal Year, as attached in Appendix 1 of the report.

(1)      The Head of Executive and Member Services be authorised to make any alterations deemed necessary to the Municipal Calendar during the course of the Municipal Year having consulted the Leader of the Council; the Leaders of the Opposition Groups and the Chair of the affected meeting.

At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business, in accordance with Standing Order 27(m).

None.

As there was no urgent business to be transacted the Mayor declared the Annual Meeting closed and advised that he looked forward to seeing all members at the next Council meeting on Monday 11 July 2022.  He then invited all members and guests to join him at his reception.